Emily Duggan
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
Emily Duggan is a contemporary poet and multidisciplinary artist with deep roots in Melrose, who has built a creative presence across the Boston area and beyond.
But what makes Emily especially remarkable isn’t just that she writes poetry; it’s how she brings it to life.
Emily isn’t a traditional “page poet.” Her work lives in the moment, blending poetry, improvisation, experimental theater, and comedy. Whether on a stage or sitting beside a stranger, she uses creativity to connect, reflect, and heal.
A lifelong Melrosian (with a creative chapter in Chicago), Emily’s love of storytelling started early. She participated in Destination Imagination throughout middle and high school, where imagination, teamwork, and quick thinking were key. She was also a frequent visitor to the Melrose Public Library, especially during its Harry Potter events — and remains impressed by its recent renovations.
In college, where she studied creative writing at Brandeis University, Emily expanded her artistic voice through improv comedy and performance poetry. She later continued her training at Emerson College, The Second City, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Her time in Chicago sharpened her improvisational skills, training her to take random ideas and quickly transform them into something meaningful and concise. That ability would later become central to her work.
In 2022, Emily became a “typewriter poet,” offering live, custom poems created on the spot. What began as virtual sessions during COVID has evolved into personal, in-person experiences.
Most recently, she completed a residency at Mount Auburn Cemetery, where her work took on a particularly meaningful dimension. Sitting with visitors, Emily would listen closely, asking thoughtful, probing questions — and then distill their stories into a poem they could take with them.
The subjects varied widely: grief, love, memory, nature, even birds and salamanders. Each poem became a keepsake — a small but powerful reflection of a human experience.
Her process is both simple and extraordinary. About 10-15 minutes of conversation. A timer set for three minutes. And then — poof — a poem appears.
One of her greatest challenges? Quieting the many poems in her mind and trusting the moment. Accepting each person’s story without judgment and shaping it with care in such a short time.
Emily’s first typewriter — a Smith Corona — was a gift from her father. Today, she often writes on a 1970s Hermes Baby Portable when working indoors, adding a tactile, timeless quality to her craft.
Beyond poetry, Emily is also a ghost tour guide in Boston (a perfect role for someone who loves history and storytelling), and an actress in local productions. Her husband is an actor, singer, and dancer, and together they share a creative life—with a cat, of course.
She credits her family for encouraging her to explore, create, and try new things, which have clearly shaped the artist she has become.
Looking ahead, Emily hopes to continue this work of connection through poetry. She will be bringing her “Poems To Go” to the Melrose Public Library, offering people of all ages a chance to experience something truly special. This Saturday, April 4, from 10:30-12:30.
Emily Duggan represents a new generation of artists — one that blurs the line between poetry and performance, and uses creativity as a tool for connection, reflection, and healing.
And perhaps most beautifully, she reminds us that sometimes all it takes is listening, a few thoughtful questions, and three minutes...to create something unforgettable.
